Innovative curriculum designing for work - based learning: 2.1 Definition on terms

Unit 2. Curriculum design for work-based learning

2.1 Definition on terms

Before we look into the specifics of curriculum development, it is important to make sure that we create a common understanding of the two most important terms in this chapter:

Curriculum and Work-based learning

A curriculum is an “academic plan,” which should include: the purpose of the curriculum (i.e., goals for student learning), the content, the sequence (the order of the learning experience), instructional methods, instructional resources, evaluation approaches, and how adjustments to the plan will be made based on experience or assessment data. The intended curriculum is the documented, official plan of what the faculty/the organisation/the trainer hope students will learn. The achieved curriculum includes knowledge, skills and attitudes that are truly learned and remembered.

Work-based learning: The term work-based learning means acquisition of knowledge and skills through carrying out – and reflecting on – tasks in a vocational context, either at the workplace or in a vocational education training institution (VET institution)

As you already know, when you plan or design a curriculum you need to make decisions about a wide range of interacting elements. They should be considered together and not as a series of agenda items. Thus choices about aims affect methods of assessment; availability of resources may support or preclude method of learning; practicalities of time and place may dictate the mode of instruction. Also the views of different stakeholders have a major impact. The students (learners) are central, but their needs must fit with the demands of the employers and the requirements of the Human Resource (HR) department. HR and the workplace supporters must share a common understanding of the curriculum pressures.

Work-based learning (WBL) provides the reality of an authentic context for learning which produces the currency of transferable credit. It can enrich student learning and create a well-qualified workforce.

The term work-based learning includes a wide range of provision where the focus is on situations where the main location for the student is the workplace. The curriculum meets the needs of both. Furthermore blended learning settings are more and more popular.

In case you’ve never dealt with online training and blended learning within work-based learning settings:

Let’s have a closer look at the benefits and features of blended learning in work-based arrangements:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjYOajMCnkQ, last access in 2015

'Blended Learning explained by EasyFilms (Explanatory videos and films by EasyFilms) from EasyFilms on Vimeo.

Why do you want to conduct your training in a work-based learning setting? How do you argue that work-based training is the best mode for this/for your specific training offer?

Activity: What are the most promising “selling points” for your training to be implemented as work-based training? Where do you see the advantages/ the value of this training mode? Have you ever considered to “blend” your training? Do you have personal experience?

Implementation: collaboration and open exchange with a colleague.
Time: 30 minutes.

If you are convinced that you want to develop and offer work-based trainings by using OER (open educational resources) then let us jump into the aspects of the curriculum development for such settings.